Life-saving device.



J. J. REOTENWALD.

LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

INVENTOR. J z: Rcoiawaid ATTORNEY5 JOHN J. RECTENWALD, OF MOUNT OLIVER BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. REoTENwALD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mount Oliver borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a life-saving device particularly designed-for aerial travel, the device being constructed whereby it can be used in connection with various types of balloons, aeroplanes, and other crafts for safely landing the occupants of the craft when an accident occurs.

The objects of my invent-ion are to provide an air craft with a balloon that can be easily and quickly inflated, and to provide means in connection with the craft for inflating the balloon that will not materially increase the weight of the air craft.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an air craft with a novel cage that will float upon water, and to furnish the cage with means whereby it can be propelled.

WVith the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter appear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of this specification wherein there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the size, shape and manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the life-saving device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing the valve in detail, and Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a portion of the same.

In the accompanying drawings the reference character A denotes a balloon or spherical body made of rubberized silk covered with asbestos or made entirely of flexible asbestos to render the same fireproof, the balloon being inflated by hydrogen or other suitable compressible gas. The balloon is covered by a netting Z and suspended from this netting are supporting cables N con- Speeification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 14, 1910.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912. Serial No. 561,308.

nected by an aluminum ring Y, the lower ends of said cables converging to a snap hook D having a latch X. The balloon or spherical body A is provided with a neck IV and in the upper end of the neck IV is arranged a check valve B of a conventional type, similar to the valves used in connection with pneumatic tires of bicycles and automobiles, the valve normally remaining closed and being opened by the injection of air or gas into the balloon. The neck IV is provided with a rip cord V, whereby the contents of the balloon can be quickly released should it be necessary.

Attached to the snap hook D is a cage E made of aluminum or other light and durable material, said cage being supported by brackets G in proximity to an aeroplane frame P, although the cage can be detachably connected to the basket of a dirigible balloon or to the car or passenger compartment of any type of air craft, whereby the aviator or passengers of the craft can enter the cage in case of an emergency, or the cage can be used as the steering chair, platform or support of the aviator particularly in connection with aeroplanes. The cage E is provided with a cork bottom H and connected to one side of the cage, as at U, is a buoyant conveyance 0 having a cork bottom H, similar to the cage E, the conveyance 0 being in the form of a boat that can be entered, by the operator of the air craft when lighting upon water, the conveyance 0 being detached whereby the operator can be rescued or in some instances propel the conveyance to land by the use of propellers or canoe paddles F detachably connected to the sides of the conveyance O, as at F. The conveyance O is held in a folded position or against the side of the cage E by a suitable hold-fast means S.

Suitably located in the aeroplane frame I is a gas tank, preferably constructed of aluminum, said tank containing hydrogen or other gas under compression, the capacity of the tank being such that when the gas is compressed a sufficient quantity will be safely held to inflate or fill the balloon A. The tank I is connected by a pipe J to a valve L located in proximity to the cage E, and the valve L is connected by another pipe R to a release union joint K, said joint being coupled to a flexible tube or pipe C extending through the neck WV to the check valve B, said pipe or tube being preferably made of rubber. The pipe C is connected to the cage E by a clamp M, and the union is adapted to be released by a lever designated by the reference numeral 1, said lever in an open position being shown by dotted lines designated K. The releasing union joint comprises two sections, one of the sections pivotally supporting, as at 2, the bifurcated lever 1, which is adapted to engage oppositely disposed pins 3 carried by the other section of said joint. The pipe J can be suitably connected to the cage E, for instance by brackets 4.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have devised a novel life saving device, embodying a balloon that can be either carried by an aeroplane or airship in an inflated or deflated condition, the former preventing an aeroplane or similar craft from being injured by suddenly clescending, while the balloon in a deflated condition can be quickly inflated by opening the valve L and should the cage E land upon water, the cage can be detached through the medium of the snap hook I) and the joint K, thus allowing the balloon to float upon the surface of the water while the cage or the conveyance O attached thereto is propelled toward land.

The gas tank I can be shaped to reduce to a minimum the air resistance encountered by a craft in flight and owing to the fact that hydrogen can be compressed to a great degree, the tank can be made a very small s1ze.

Provisions can be stored in the cage and owing to the fact that the operating mechanism of the lifesaving device is within easy reach, it is evident that the operator of the air craft can quickly release the device from the craft.

A plurality of the air or gas storage tanks can be used, also a plurality of the balloons particularly in connection with air crafts of a large size.

What I claim, is:

1. In a life saving device for an air craft, combined with the frame of an aeroplane, of a cage carried by and adapted to be separated from said frame, a normally deflated balloon detachably connected to said cage and adapted to be inflated and separated from the cage subsequent to the separation of the cage from the frame, a gas tank carried by said frame, means for supplying gas from the tank to the balloon to inflate the same prior to the separation of the cage from the frame, means whereby the balloon is separated from the cage. subsequent to the separation of the cage from the frame, a buoyant conveyance connected to the cage, and means whereby the conveyance is separated from the cage subsequent to the separation of the balloon from the cage.

2. In a life saving device for an air craft,

the combination with the frame of an aeroplane, of a cage supported by and adjustably connected with said frame, a normally deflated balloon detachably connected to said cage, a gas tank carried by said frame, means for supplying gas from the tank to the balloon to inflate the same prior to the separation of the cage from the frame, means for detachably connecting the balloon and said supply means, means whereby the balloon is separated from the cage subsequent to the separation of the cage from the frame, a buoyant conveyance detachably connected to said cage,'means for detachably connecting the cage and the frame, and means whereby the conveyance is separated from the cage subsequent to the separation of the balloon from the cage.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. RECTENWALD.

lVitnesses:

K. H. BUTLER,

JOHN L. STEPHANY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

